(Eagle News) — Malacanang lauded the Chinese Foreign Ministry for taking the “correct” stand in upholding the right of the Philippine government to combat crimes and illegal drugs, which the Palace said was the proper response of an UN member state.
This was after the spokesman of the China’s foreign ministry Lu Kang defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s “positive efforts” to improve the situation in the country, amid comments made by United Nations high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein that Duterte should seek “psychiatric evaluation” for allegedly “vilifying” UN Special Rapporter Agnes Callamard.
“Anyone without bias can see that President Duterte has made positive efforts since assuming office to combat drug-related crimes as well as terrorism, develop the national economy, and improve people’s livelihood, which have effectively protected and promoted the Philippine people’s fundamental rights to security and development,” the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said in a regular ministry press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
“The achievements made by the Philippine government led by President Duterte on these fronts have won great approval and extensive support among the Philippine people,” Lu added.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that what China did was the “correct response” of any UN member state to the kind of comment that UNHR high commissioner Zeid made regarding President Duterte.
“I think that would be the correct response of any member state of the United Nations. I reiterate the United Nations is an organization consisting of states and as such all UN officials cannot deal with elected leaders of member-nations in a manner that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights did,” Roque said on Tuesday.
“The response of China is correct and this is not just because we are friends with China but because that is really the objective of the United Nations,” he said.
China’s foreign ministry also said the international community, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, shall “respect the sovereignty of the Philippines” and the will of its people and should view the Philippine drug war in a “comprehensive, unbiased and objective way.”
“Relevant sides of the international community, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, shall respect the sovereignty of the Philippines and the will of its people, view the outcomes of the Philippines’ fight against drug and terrorism in a comprehensive, unbiased and objective way, and support its efforts to move forward its human rights cause in light of its national conditions,” Lu said.
“As an agency of the UN, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is expected to fulfill its duties within the framework set out by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” China’s foreign ministry spokesman added.
The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Zeid last week “deplored” a recent statement of President Duterte urging police forces not to cooperate with UN special rapporteur who is tasked to investigate the alleged human rights violations in the Philippines.
In his oral address on March 7 to the 37th human rights council, Zeid said he was also concerned with the “continued vilification” of UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard by the Philippine leader.
Zeid, in another event attended by media later, also called President Duterte’s words and actions against Callamard “absolutely disgraceful” and “unacceptable,” as he suggested that the Philippine president “submit himself to some sort of psychiatric evaluation.”
“This is absolutely disgraceful, that a president of a country could speak in this way, using the foulest of language against a rapporteur that’s highly respected,” the UN human rights chief said.
“And really it makes one believe that the president of the Philippines needs to submit himself to some sort of psychiatric evaluation. This sort of comment really is unacceptable, unacceptable.”
“In the Philippines, following the International Criminal Court’s announcement of plans to open an investigation, the authorities announced their willingness to work with the UN on drug-related challenges,” Zeid said during the event on March 7.
